LT Tires on a Trailer

[Mischief Managed]

Re: LT Tires on a Trailer

I'm not an insurance savy person especially with claims but just suppose you blew a tire, caused a serious accident and the investigation found you had 'truck' tires instead of 'trailers' tires on the trailer and blames you for running the wrong tires. Really worth saving a few bucks on truck tires and not use tires that are specified for trailer use?
Mark

Liability and collision insurance exist to cover you specifically when you do something wrong. If you always do everything right, you never need anything other than uninsured motorist and comprehensive unless your stuff is damaged in a war.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: LT Tires on a Trailer

What am I missing here?

I'm not sure that you're missing anything but did you see in my reply post #17, first sentence that I understand and agree LT tires can be used on a trailer?
The OP was asking: "Anyone running a light truck tire on their trailers? If it's not good idea, why?" So I'm giving a perspective on maybe why not to run LT tires on a trailer. In the end it's his decision.
What I'm saying is that I prefer, higher cost or the same, to run ST stamped tires on my trailer because even though LT tires may be technically legal and even the same, in the case of an accident related to tire failure, I want the police report to indicate I had ST tires being used.
Why would I be concerned about that even though I have insurance and maybe the accident was not my fault yet my boat/trailer caused damage to someone else? Because some people in the insurance/litigation business (at least here in SoCal and the example of my wife getting plowed into is what I know from first hand experience) can try and find any little detail/issue/loophole/problem on my part to claim my being partially at fault even though I was not.
It's just like preventative maintenance: run tires on the trailer stamped ST.
Mark

 

[truckermatt]

Re: LT Tires on a Trailer

I run trailer tires on my boat , I have had good luck with them, and I can find them cheaper that e-rated truck tires.

But FYI, I drive a semi truck and on trailers I have seen old drive and steer tires used, And they seem to work fine, and they are hauling alot more weight than your boat.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: LT Tires on a Trailer

I run trailer tires on my boat , I have had good luck with them, and I can find them cheaper that e-rated truck tires.

But FYI, I drive a semi truck and on trailers I have seen old drive and steer tires used, And they seem to work fine, and they are hauling alot more weight than your boat.

But you won't see a drive tire on a steer axle

 

[truckermatt]

Re: LT Tires on a Trailer

But you won't see a drive tire on a steer axle

No you dont, THAT would Illegal

As been already mentioned, Most boat trailer tires Wear out due to age/dry rotting then due to tread life wearing low.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: LT Tires on a Trailer

What I'm saying is that I prefer, higher cost or the same, to run ST stamped tires on my trailer because even though LT tires may be technically legal and even the same, in the case of an accident related to tire failure, I want the police report to indicate I had ST tires being used.

I think that the police indicating an LT tire was on there would not hurt you at all because the LT tire is equal if not a better tire than an ST. I think you are worrying for nothing in that regard.

If you have a blowout and cause an accident because of a tire blow out, they are likely going to look at the age of the tire and the condition vs LT vs ST. Another reason to change tires before they hit 5 years.

 

[Lou C]

Re: LT Tires on a Trailer

I think as long as the weight rating of the tire matches the weight capacity of the trailer and it's not a P rated tire, but an LT , the lawyer can't say much. What expert witness is he going to find that will convince a jury or judge that a tire rated at 2500 lbs, is not adequate on a trailer rated for 5000 lbs (assuming a single axle)? As long as it is not specified anywhere that LT tires cannot be used on trailers, they can't really say that you were negligent.
A far more significant issue, is the fact that very few people actually know what their boats weigh and therefore do not really know if whatever trailer/axles/wheels/tires etc are adequate in the first place.
People are trying out LT tires not because they are cheaper but because the quality of trailer tires is BAD.....

 

[Slow Ride]

Re: LT Tires on a Trailer

OK ladies, enough with the arguing! If I wanted to here that stuff I'd talk to the wife about boating! LOL. I happen to have a 31' boat that sits on a tandem axle trailer. The trailer has 3 LT tires and one trailer tire. I know, I know its a bad idea to run different types. I had a blow out a few months back and my spare was a trailer tire and I just havent gotten around to replacing it. Anyway, the blow out was due to hitting a pallet that was on the freeway, not tire failure. The LT tires have been just fine on a boat that weighs nearly 10K when fully loaded. I have noticed that the trailer tire runs much hotter than the others! I travel about 15 miles from my home to the landing and when I get there the trailer tire is hot enough to make you remove our hand after a few seconds. The others are warm but not hot. The down side to LT tires is that they are usually taller and displace a little more water. This can cause your trailer to float without the boat on it (mine does). I prefere the LT tire because it is cheaper and does the job without any problems.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: LT Tires on a Trailer

OK ladies, enough with the arguing! If I wanted to here that stuff I'd talk to the wife about boating! LOL. I happen to have a 31' boat that sits on a tandem axle trailer. The trailer has 3 LT tires and one trailer tire. I know, I know its a bad idea to run different types. I had a blow out a few months back and my spare was a trailer tire and I just havent gotten around to replacing it. Anyway, the blow out was due to hitting a pallet that was on the freeway, not tire failure. The LT tires have been just fine on a boat that weighs nearly 10K when fully loaded. I have noticed that the trailer tire runs much hotter than the others! I travel about 15 miles from my home to the landing and when I get there the trailer tire is hot enough to make you remove our hand after a few seconds. The others are warm but not hot. The down side to LT tires is that they are usually taller and displace a little more water. This can cause your trailer to float without the boat on it (mine does). I prefere the LT tire because it is cheaper and does the job without any problems.

Smiles Can't resist. Ever hearThe old saying whatever floats your boat

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: LT Tires on a Trailer

Ironically, I just went through this process on Sunday. Had a blowout of passenger rear trailer tire. I have 205/75-14's on my travel trailer (x4) 3 years ago I purchased 4 wheels/tires (aluminum modular and ST5000 tires w/ #1760 load rating) mounted/balanced and shipped to my home for $612...I digress...

I have heard many the arguments for and against the use of LT tires on my trailers (both TT and Boat). The biggest for the TT was the sidewall flexing that the ST's allow. LT tires apparently do not flex as well and tend to wear things out faster (think jarring action). So on the travel trailer I put 4 new Carlisle Radial RH tires and the remaining 3 ST5000's are now going on the boat trailer, which have been running passenger tires for the past 5 seasons and are sidewall dry-rotted, but are 15's so I know need new 14' rims. The boat is light and radial car tires wear better as the tread is still looking brand new while the sidewalls are cracked (I should note I found LT tires substantially less expensive).

So IMHO, I would run whatever tires you're comfortable with and deal with the pluses and minuses accordingly?!